Metallic cross-tie and clamp.



PATENTED JAN. 20, 1903.

J. OLLOMAN.

METALLIC GROSS TIE AND CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 26, 1902.

H0 MODEL.

Cl 01.2w. 0220 man/ "m: uonnls Perms oovrPHmo-Umon wumuc'rou. v. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()EE'ICE.

JOHN OLLOMAN, OF EAST PALESTINE, OHIO.

METALLIC CROSS-TIE AND CLAMP.

.ePECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 718,952, dated January20, 1903.

Application filed April 25, 1902.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN OLLOMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at East Pal-- estine, in the county of Columbiana and State ofOhio, have invented a new and useful improvement in metallic cross-tiesand a fastener or clamp to fasten rails of railroads, trolley-roads, andincline-roads, 850., to me tallic cross-ties, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to metallic cross-ties for railroads,trolley-roads, incline-roads,&c., with clamp-fasteners forming jaws orclamps, one of which may be permanently fastened to each end of thecross-tie or the tie made with one jaw or clamp on each end of thecross-tie, forming a part of the tie or of the same piece of metal, andthe other jaws or clamps adjusted by means of m ortises or holes in thecross-tie, through which the clamp or fastener is inserted and connectedor adjust ed and held by means of a retaining key or wedge, which ismade with two prongs or tines, so as to be spread, or one prong bent soas to hold it in position permanently. The cross-tie may be box-shaped,flat, channeliron or T shaped, and the clamps may all be adjustable, orthe cross-tie may have one or two permanent clamps or fasteners.

My invention also relates to the clamp or fastener, which is adjustableand applied by means of mortises or holes in the cross-ties, throughwhich the clamp or fastener is connected and held in position by meansof a retaining key or wedge or a nut or other device.

I attain these objects by means of the mechanism illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, of which- Figure 1 is a side View and partialvertical section through the center of the cross-tie. Fig. 2 is aperspective view of the cross-tie and rail and one clamp or fastener inposition or place. Fig. 3 is a perspective of the clamp or fastener.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In Fig. 1, A represents a box-shaped crosstie. B represents a railroadiron or rail. 0 is the clamp or fastener. a a a c are the mortises orholes in the cross-tie. c c are slotmortises in the clamps or fasteners,through Serial No. 104,620. (No model.)

which the retaining-key is driven. cross-tie broken off between rails.

In Fig. 2, A-is the cross-tie. B is the rail. 0 is the clamp or fastenerin position. D is the pronged wedge or retaining-key. a a are themortises or holes in the cross-tie.

In Fig. 3, (J is the clamp. e is the jaw or claw, which comes down onthe flange of the rail. 0 is the slot-mortise in the clamp or fastener,which must be made to extend a little below the surface of the tie whenin position.

The cross-ties may be made box shape, T shape, flat, or channel-iron. Imakethe Inortises or holes a a a a through the upper flange on T-shapedcross-ties or channel-iron crossties and through flat cross-ties andthrough the upper side of box-shaped cross-ties, as shown in Fig. 2,where a box-tie is represented by letter A. I make the mortises or holesa a a a so that the flange of the rail when in position on the cross-tieis a little over the mortise into which the clamp or fastener is firstinserted in adjusting it, as shown in Fig. 1. A few inches back anothermortise a is made, through which the end of the clamp, with theslot-mortise c, is brought up, as shown in Fig. 1.

Ametallic cross-tie withapermanent clamp and brace is also intended tobe used in connection with this adjustable clamp-fastener 0n the outsideof the outside rail at curves on railroads, which will keep the railfrom turning, the balance of the cross-tie to be mortised for theadjustable clamp-fastener.

The clamp O in Fig. 3 I make of iron or steel and in size to suit thedimensions of the rail used and the thickness of the metal of thecross-tie at the point where the holes or mortises are made in thecross-tie. The jaw or claw e I make long enough to take a firm hold onthe flange of the rail, as shown in Fig. 2, and the jaw or claw e onclamps or fasteners on the outside of the outer rail at curves inrailroads I make long enough to come up against the side of the rail andextend nearly to the top of the rail to form a brace to support the railand assist the inside clamp or fastener in keeping the rail fromturning, thereby making the rail on a curve doubly secure. In such caseI adjust such g is the outside clamp-fastener before the rail is put ICOin position on the tie, or a tie with a permanent clamp or fastener forthe outside of the outer rail may be used and will be of greatadvantage, especially where there is a sharp curve in the line of therailroad. The body portion of my improved fastener is approximatelyU-shaped and has one of its ends provided with a slot 0 adapted toreceive the retaining key or wedge D. I make the mortise c to extend alittle below the surface of the cross-tie when the clamp isin position,so the jaw or claw 6 can be firmly set on the flange of the rail by thedriving of the key or wedge and to take up any wearing at the point ofbearing of the rail and tie or other loosening by driving theretaining'key farther in or through the slot-mortise.

The clamp or fastener is adjusted by inserting the mortised end throughthe mortise a at the flange of the rail and bringing it up through theother mortise a back from the rail, which mortise must be the samedistance from the mortise at the rail as the angles of the clamp arefrom each other, giving a little room for adjusting, as shown at Fig. 1.The pronged key or wedge D is then inserted in the slot mortise o anddriven tight. One prong of the key or wedge D is then bent back to holdit in position, as shown in Fig. l

2. The driving of the key or wedge D will bring the jaw or claw e firmlyon the flange of the rail and make a complete and secure fastener,holding the rail firmly and secure and avoids the use of nuts and bolts.

If preferred, I make the clamp C of round iron or steel and make themortises or holes a a. a a, circular or round in the cross-tie. I

also put on a thread or screw for the use of nuts to be used instead ofthe retaining-key D; but I prefer the key or wedge D even in round ironclamps, and my invention is superior because I make use of the prongedkey or wedge D, which cannot work out or become loose and can beadjusted in much less time than nuts and bolts, and therefore myinvention is an improvement on or is superior to all other fasteners inthat I use no nuts or bolts.

I am aware that metallic cross-ties with adjustable clamps or fastenershave been made prior to my invention, and I do not claim the combinationin its broadest sense; but

What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

In a device of the type set forth, the combination with the rail, andthe tie, said tie having a pair of openings formed in its upper wall ateach side of the rail; of approximately U-shaped rail-fasteners, havingtheir body portions arranged within the tie, and normally engaging theinner face of the top wall of the tie, and having their ends projectingthrough the said apertures, one end of each fastener having an aperturetherein, a claw formed integral with the other end of the said clamps,andadapted to engage the base of the rails, and retaining keys arrangedin the apertures of the said fasteners and engaging the outer face ofthe upper wall of the tie.

JOHN OLLOMAN.

Witnesses:

J. W. IRWIN, J. E. MACDONALD.

